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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Hello Everyone,
April
10, 2010 found us at the Lancaster Host Resort
in Lancaster, PA for the 9th Annual Spring
Meeting and Benefit Auction. The meeting was
well attended and the highlight of the program
was a visit from PA Secretary of Agriculture
Russell Reading. The Benefit Auction grossed
just over $50,000.00 for our general operating
fund and the PAC Fund brought in $34,522.00.
Many thanks go out to Kelly Pittenger and all
the board members and volunteers that worked so
hard to make the day a success. I also want to
thank all of you that donated items for the
auction and those came to bid on them. The PAC
or Political Action Fund also hit its goal and I
want to thank everyone who sold raffle tickets
and helped with the effort. The money in our PAC
is very important to our efforts in Harrisburg
and gives us the clout we need to support the
legislators that support our industry.
It takes a tremendous amount of work over 12
months to do all that is needed to run our
Association and address all the issues facing
the industry. I am convinced that without the
Association and it's presence in Harrisburg we
all would have been put out of business a long
time ago. The important thing to remember is
that much of what we accomplish is done through
the volunteered time of the Board of Directors
and other hard working members. Here is just a
list of the major issues we worked on in the
last year:
FORMED THE HUNTING RANCH COUNCIL TO ASSIST
OUR PA HUNTING RANCHES WITH SPECIFIC ISSUES.
THIS PAST YEAR IT WORKED WITH THE PA DEPARTMENT
OF AG ON THE BOAR ISSUE. THE CURRENT CHAIR OF
THE COUNCIL IS MIKE GEE-TIOGA HUNTING PRESERVE.
CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE PA DEPARTMENT OF
REVENUES NEW SALES TAX CHARGE ON DEER FEEDS.
MILLIRON AND ASSOCIATES ARE WORKING WITH KEY
LEGISLATORS TO CREATE THE FARM EXEMPTION AND
THUS ELIMINATE THE TAX AND COST TO OUR FARMS.
WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH PA DEPARTMENT OF AG TO
REOPEN THE NEW YORK BORDER TO THE MOVEMENT OF
DEER SOLD TO NEW YORK. THE BORDER WAS CLOSED THE
DAY OF THE 2009 FALL SALE.
THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD RESPONDED TO THE
RECENT BUDGET CUTS TO THE PA BUDGET, AS IT
THREATENED THE INDUSTRIES CWD SURVEILLANCE
PROGRAM. AFTER MANY MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT THE
CWD PROGRAM WAS SAVED.
MILLIRON AND ASSOCIATES ARE CURRENTLY WORKING
WITH KEY LEGISLATORS TO PASS A BILL TO CREATE A
$75.00 CLO FEE TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF OUR CWD
PROGRAMS.
THE ASSOCIATION ASSISTED TWO PA HUNTING RANCHES
WITH LOCAL ZONING AND APPROVAL ISSUES.
THE ASSOCIATION MADE A $7,500.00 PLEDGE TO
NADEFA TO SUPPORT THIER NATIONAL LOBBYING
EFFORTS IN WASHINGTON.
PLEDGED $5,000.00 TO THE NORTH DAKOTA DEER
FARMERS TO FIGHT PETA.
PLEDGED $ 5,000.00 TO THE NEW JERSEY DEER
FARMERS TO HELP WITH THEIR EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE
THEIR ASSOCIATION.
PLEDGED $5,000.00 TO THE CERVID LIVESTOCK
ASSOCIATION TO CONTINUE RESEARCH TO DEVELOP A
BLOOD TB TEST.
THE ASSOCIATION SPONSORED TWO REGIONAL VET AND
DEER PRODUCER CLINICS IN THE EAST WEST OF THE
STATE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OD DR. KAREN MARTIN
AND DR. DEB LANDIS.
THE ASSOCIATION PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED THE
2010 PDFA MEMBERSHIP RESOURCE DIRECTORY.
THE ASSOCIATION CREATED THE CERVID LIVESTOCK
REWARD FUND TO HELP PDFA MEMBERS BRING ANYONE
VANDALIZING A CLO TO JUSTICE.
THE ASSOCIATION RAISED AND CONTRIBUTED OVER
$25,000.00 TO KEY LEGISLATORS IN HARRISBURG
THROUGH ITS PAC FUND.
THE ASSOCIATION PUT ON THE ANNUAL TWO DAY FALL
BREEDER AUCTION AND TRADE SHOW IN JOHNSTOWN, PA.
THIS YEARS AUCTION WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 10-11,
2010 AT THE ALTOONA BLAIR COUNTY CONVENTION
CENTER.
THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES A FREE MEAL AT THE
ANNUAL SPRING BENEFIT AUCTION TO ITS MEMBERS AND
SPONSORED GUESTS.
THE ASSOCIATION SPONSORED AND ANTLER SCORING
SEMINAR ALONG WITH SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL AT
THE AMOS KAUFFMAN FARM
This is just a recap of what I call some of the
big stuff. There was much more that was done in
the last year to continue to move our industry
forward and support the Association's
membership. Our mission: To Preserve, Protect,
and Promote the Deer Industry takes a lot of
work. Thanks to all of you that volunteer your
time.
Please mark your calendars for the Fall Breeder
Auction and Trade Show September 10-11, 2010 at
the Altoona Blair County Convention Center. I
hope to see you there.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Dave Griffith, President
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UPCOMING EVENTS: |
2010 Scheduled Meeting Dates
Friday, August 13
Fall Sale Information Now
Available.
Click
here...
Friday, October 15
Friday, November 19
Except where noted, all
meetings take place at the
Huntingdon Ag Extension
Office
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